The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-07-21
KENTUCKY PIONEERS.
A Graphic Descriptions of the Last Indian
Battle In Kentucky.


The ability of the renegade Simon
Girty combined the warlike tribes be-
yond the Ohio in an expedition which
he ably commanded. No name was
more abhOrred or dreaded than his.
He was the incarnation of savage
cruelty. He was one of the four sons
of drunken reprobate who wandered
into the extreme west of Pennsylva-
mia, and was there murdered by some
companion wretch. He was
adopted by the Senecas, and except for
brief period, when in the employ of
Lord Dunmore on the frontier, he
lived with them and the Shawnees.
At one time he and Kenton were
brother scouts, and the remembrance
of it induced him, in caprice of
mercy, to save his old comrade from
the stake to which he was already
bound. But the weakness was never
repeated. He advised and witnessed
the burning of Colonel Crawford, and
laughed heartily at the wretched suf-
ferer's prayer that his torments might
be ended by bullet. He was slave
to drink, and when under its infiil-
ence it is said 4.he had no compassion
in his heart Girty profoundly and
sincerely hated the white man, and
lost no chance of displaying his ami
mostly.
Assembling more than six hundred
picked warriors of the Shawnees and
neighboring tribes at the old Indian
town of Chillicothe, he moved rapidly
and secretly, crossing the Ohio where
Cincinnati now is built, and pushing
toward the settlement in the Blue
Silently, on an August night, Girty,
with six hundred Indians, surrounded
the station Within it there was ac-
tivity and preparation, for the men
were to start at early dawn to relieve
Captain John Holders little fort,
across the Kentucky, which was re-
ported as threatened; but no one
dreamed that Girty was near. At
dawn the rifiemen set out from the
eastern gate, but fortunately a vOlley
checked them before it was too late to
regain the stOckade. Elijah Craig
was their commander, and from his
experience of Indian tactics he guess
ed the force and plan of the enemy,
and foresaw the siege that he was to
repel. Fortunately, there were pro-
visions and ammunition, but by some
improvidence the inclosure of the sta
tion did not take in the spring of wa
ter upon which the garrison must
rely.
Calling all the women together, he
explained that the Indians were con-
cealed, as he believed, in force about
the spring. But he thought that the
ambuscade would not be developed
until an attack by smaller party on
the other side of the stockade, in
tended to divert the pioneers atten-
tion, should first be made; and he
asked the women to volunteer to fetch
from the spring, before the grand at
tack commenced, the supply of water
that was indispensable.
1t was naturally objected by the
women that the men ought to go, but
Craig reasoned that the women usu-
ally went to the spring with their
buckets, and rarely the men; that the
one would be regarded by the Indians
as proof that. their ambuscade and
plan of attack was not suspected,
while the other would bring on the
attack in open ground. The crisis
was urgent, the peril great; but the
women speedily reached their con-
clusion. Thirty or forty women and
girls went out through the western
gate, each carrying her pail or bucket,
and endeavoring by laughter or song
to disguise the fear that penetrated
every bosom. Across the open space
and past the side of the canebrake
they passed on to the bubbling spring
that burst out from the foot of the
knoll. Their faces betrayed no fear,
their manner showed no agitation,
their walk was not quickened, though
they felt sure that the rifles of five
hundred savages bore upon them, and
that not one would survive a signal of
attack.
The buckets were dipped one after
another in the spring, and loaded with
their precious burden the brave wo-
men returned toward the fort. 1t was
not until the thick cane was again
passed, and the brushes and tall weeds
left behind, that their composure was
disturbed Then, safe from the TOM
ahawk and the knife of the savages,
and well within the protecting range
of the rifles of their husbands and ia
thers, they hastened with trembling
limbs toward the open gate, spilling in
their safety part of the treasure they
had carried so steadily through dan
ger and bursting into tears of agita-
ton and pride and gratitude. Not
gun was fired at them. nor did. an In
dian move, though the little company
passed within twenty yards of five
hundred. Craig had exactly guessed
his enemy's plan and forecast his ac-
ton. 1t was the boldest of bold risks,
but it was confidently proposed and
perfectly carried through. Men often
wondered afterward what would have
become of Craig had the Indians fired
upon the women, or rushed out and
captured them; but Craig's good-na-
tured reply was, that his good sense
and the women's courage made the
exploit safe venture.
As the fight opened, and the little
garrison of forty men held out stoutly
against such odds, two brave fellows,
Bell and Tomlinson, mounted their
horses to carry the news to other sta
tions and bring up help. The gate was
suddenly swung open, and they dashed
at topmost speed into the very face of
the Indian ranks, and were through
and beyond, and into the cover of the
waving corn that hid them from the
aim Of their astonished foe. Soon
Todd and the men from Lexington
came hurrying up, and the news went
ON to Boone, and from him to Trigg at
Harrodsburgh, and still further on to
Logan. Never had there been such a
general uprising. The word flew from
settlement to settlement that every
fighting man was needed. The re-
sponse was instant and unanimous.
The little garrison meanwhile was
sorely pressed, but activity and cour-
age availed them. The women mould
ed bullets and cut patching" and
cared for the wounded and dying as
they fell, The very children caught
the inspiration of their parents cour-
age. and ran from place to place with
g0urds full of water to extinguish the
flames that the hre-arrows lighted.
An infant, destined to be the slayer of
the renowned Tecumseh, and to be-
come a Senator and Vice-President of
the republic. slept peacefully in his
cradle in care of little sister, whose
fidelity to that tender duty still left
her time to carry ammunition to the
men.